Chapter 699 Chapter 699
Deva watched more people come into the cafeteria. She’d never seen so many of the Alliance team members together before. There was no question they were all on a team, they walked with confidence, and some just looked like large predators – even on two legs. She didn’t have an exact number for the special teams, but there had to be close to a hundred people in the room now. This was the first time they’d had a place large enough to gather so many, and now she understood the extreme remoteness of this location.
Devin, Calum, Wynter, Kenzo, and Jesse were standing at the front table with a man she didn’t know. They were all leaning over a map, talking. The man kept pointing out areas on it. Whatever was being discussed was serious. Devin was on the phone and would pause and listen to the others and then talk again.
“Something’s going down.” Amari sat beside her. “That’s Cassius, leader of the rogues watching this place.”
Deva looked back at him. That explained why did didn’t know him. “Maybe someone has found this place.”
“Can’t be too close. They patrol fifty miles in every direction.”
Deva looked around for Taggart and then saw he was standing at the back with two men she didn’t know. The way they were talking, with hands moving, she could only figure they were some of his men. “Fifty miles is too close.” She said quietly. “If they found this place – especially right now, they could cripple the Alliance.”
“She’s not wrong.” Gia sat down and then exhaled loudly. “Deacon was just sent to get some gear packed.”
“For?” Amari glanced around the room and didn’t relax until she located Tripp in the crowd.
“Not sure. Wynter called him over when we walked in, and then he and Blaise left together.”
“Whatever it is, better not screw up the Christmas plans.” Foster walked over and then smiled at everyone, one at a time. “It feels like years since I saw you guys.” He sat down and set his run pack on the table.
“Any luck finding Zain?”
He shook his head. “Wherever he is, he doesn’t want to be found.”
“As soon as we find him, I’m going to gut him,” Amari said with a growl in her voice.
“Zain’s not as soft as you guys think he is.” Foster crossed his arms and leaned on the table. “He’s fine. I don’t know why he took off, but I’m sure he has his reasons.”
“Better be really good reasons,” Amari mumbled.
“Okay, everyone. Take a seat.” Calum moved to stand behind the front table.
Rayne went over and sat beside where Devin was standing. Even she looked concerned, and usually, her whole demeanor was calm.
Devin put his hand in the air and looked around. The room was in motion for a minute, and then it was completely quiet. “I know we brought you all here to go over the plan for Christmas, but something urgent has been brought to our attention.” He looked at Cassius. “Cassius leads the rogues that patrol and make sure no one finds this location.” Devin glanced at Wynter briefly. “Their border is fifty miles, roughly in every direction.”
“That’s eighty kilometers for those that don’t speak imperial measurements.” Calum crossed his arms and looked back at Devin.
“Right. Their fliers have been keeping track of a group of five that seem to be checking the area, one grid at a time…”
“They’re looking for here?” Someone said Deva wasn’t sure who.
“That’s what we figure.” Devin nodded. “They’re not close to the border yet, but as you know, there’s not a lot out this way in the North and West, so we’re not going to take any chances.” Cassius leaned closer and said something quietly. Devin nodded. “Cassius’ team is working on getting more information to check that they are, in fact, looking for our location, but we all agree,” he motioned to those standing at the front with him, “that we’re not going to wait around and find out.” He turned and looked at Kenzo.
Kenzo moved to stand in the center aisle. “Wynter and I are going to take three others with us and head that way. If Cassius’ people don’t have answers by the time we get there, we’ll get them ourselves.” There was a commotion as people spoke up and raised their hands. Kenzo put his hand up. “Hold on. Because we’re heading into deep winter space, we’re selecting those that will be able to blend in if things go sideways and we have to run out on four legs.” He looked at a woman. “Except you, Hadleigh, but you can just fly overhead and watch our tails.”
The woman nodded.
Kenzo turned and looked at Wynter. She nodded and moved to stand beside him. She paused and shook her head. “Put your hand down, Tripp, you’re needed elsewhere.” She grinned. “You too, Beck.” She stood there for a moment, looking around the room, and then stopped on the back of it. Deva turned to see Taggart still standing there. “Taggart, I’m told you’re one hell of a tracker, and you have the paws for snow.” Wynter chuckled. “We’d like you and—” She paused when Calum stepped forward and spoke quietly to her. Nodding her head, she turned and looked right at Deva. “Deva – seems you have the paws we need too, and I hear you’re good on a rifle.”
Deva nodded despite wanting to say she couldn’t shoot people.
“That’s our team then.” She looked behind her to see Devin nod to her. “We’ll be heading out in an hour, so get your gear packed. Blaise has some whites for us to wear. We’ll be taking the trailer with two snowmobiles to get us as far in as we can without being spotted.” She motioned to the back of the room. Deva turned to see Blaise and Griffin standing there.
“As far as the Christmas op meeting, we’ll pick it up in a few hours after we get this search underway.” Devin turned around and spoke to Calum.
“Lucky you.” Amari grinned. “You get to go hunting.” She stood up. “I’m going to go see what other task my mate has and see if it’s something fun I could help with.”
Deva watched her walk away and then turned to see Jesse coming toward her. “I miss the water and warmth.” She glanced at Calla, who smiled.
“I don’t even want to hear about your fun in the sun,” Foster stated.
“Oh, it was loads of fun,” Calla said. “Rain. Lots of rain. The constant motion on the boat and people lining up to shoot us with large guns.”
Deva shook her head at the blank look on Foster’s face. Getting up, she went over to where Jesse had stopped.
“Are you good with this?” He looked over at Devin. “They needed someone whose animal could move fast in the snow, that could also handle a weapon if needed.”
Deva hugged her waist. “I’m okay with it.” She looked over to where Taggart stood talking to Blaise now. “Someone has to keep Taggart from getting dead.”
Jesse snorted. “From what I’m told, that could be a full-time job.”
Nodding her head slowly, she looked back at him.
“I also heard you have a mate.”
Taking a deep breath, she blew out it. “Yes. Of course, if we weren’t running for our lives and trying not to get killed, we might be able to discuss it.”
Jesse’s smile was huge. “I don’t think there is such a thing as a long courting problem-free mating anymore.”
Deva pulled out her phone and looked at it. “I was afraid you’d say that.” She held the phone up. “I need to go see someone about a charge pack for my phone. Sounds like we’re going to be without hydro for a bit.”
“Fallan will have any tech gear you need.” Jesse motioned to the doors. “Be safe out there.”
Deva nodded and turned to go find Fallan. Taggart started heading in her direction. His expression was a serious one.
He stopped her before she could reach the door. “Is no good that you go.” He said quietly.
Raising one eyebrow, she gave him a cold look. “Someone has to go and make sure you don’t do something stupid.”
“Is true, boss. Taggart’s Deva will watch over him so he no alone.”
She turned to see one of the men he’d been talking to behind her.
He bowed his head. “I am Roque.”
She gave him a polite smile. “Deva, but you already know that.”
He nodded. “I do know it.”
Deva turned back to Taggart. “The team leaders selected me because of my clan type.” She pointed to him. “Our clan type. We move faster in the snow than some of the larger clans.”
Taggart frowned. “Is Wynter and Kenzo fast in snow too?”
Deva looked over at the leaders standing at the front talking. “No. Wynter is from the polar bear clan.”
“Is mean bear, boss,” Roque said with a hard look.
Deva could only assume he’d run across the wild version at some point. “And,” she turned back to Taggart, “I believe Kenzo is from a snow leopard clan.”
“So he’s paws good in snow, and he’s color make it hard for to see him, boss.”
Deva wasn’t sure why she had a stranger on her side, but she’d take it. “Exactly.” She stepped closer and poked Taggart in the chest. “This better be the last time you try to prevent me from doing my job.”
“Sing it, sister.” The woman Hadleigh walked by them, a grin on her face.
“I have to go find Fallan and get a charge pack for my phone.” She huffed out a breath to calm down. “Do you need one?”
Taggart moved just his eyes to look at Roque and then nodded. “Please. Yes.” He motioned to the other side of the room. “I go with Blaise to get gear.”
“Perfect.” She sucked in another breath and then went out the doors before he did something else to piss her off.
Ten steps later, she realized she may have overreacted but wasn’t sorry for doing it. She’d done her time of men questioning if a woman should do a job with risks. When she’d signed up for security for her clan, she wasn’t a hardcore feminist—she just knew what she could and couldn’t do, and people telling her she couldn’t based on her sex wasn’t happening. Ever.